News from Statistics NZ
New Zealand film production revenue increased 15 percent to $1.1billion in 2017, Stats NZ said today. Wellington remains the main player, but Auckland’s film sector led the growth last year.

Wellington’s film production revenue decreased slightly from 2016, but it is still the main player in film production, accounting for gross revenue of $631million in 2017.

“In 2017, Wellington’s film production revenue was more than half (55 percent) of New Zealand’s total, while Auckland’s share rose to 43 percent,” said business performance manager Laura O’Leary.

“In 2017, Wellington-based production and post-production companies contributed to the making of Ghost in the Shell, Thor: Ragnarok, Blade Runner 2049, Justice League, and War for the Planet of the Apes, while Mortal Engines was shot in Wellington.”

Auckland’s film production revenue was estimated at $489million in 2017 – increasing 37 percent from 2016. The number of businesses involved in the screen industry in Auckland grew 9 percent in 2017.

In 2017, Auckland’s gross revenue in the production and post-production sector increased 16 percent, to more than $1billion. Production includes writing and filming of feature films, television shows, commercials, online-only programmes, and other forms of media. Post-production includes editing, visual and special effects, and subtitling.

“In contrast to its large feature film sector, Wellington has relatively few locally made TV shows and commercials – those areas are dominated by Auckland,” Ms O’Leary said.

In 2017, broadcasting revenue in the Auckland region increased 8 percent from 2016.

Revenue from film exhibition increased 65 percent, to $79 million. “A number of big films were shown between 2016 and 2017 such as Moana, Rogue One, Dunkirk, Beauty and the Beast, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Wonder Woman,” Ms O’Leary said.

Overall revenue in New Zealand screen industry rises 8 percent

Overall gross revenue for New Zealand’s screen industry businesses increased 8 percent in 2017. Total screen revenue has grown over the last four years to reach $3.5 billion in 2017. Revenue from businesses involved in production and post-production (up 8 percent) was the main driver of the overall growth.

Screen industry jobs in 2016

Based on the most-recently available data, screen industry employment remained stable at 13,900 employees in 2016. These employees cumulatively worked in 26,600 jobs, or contracts. The employment figures are based on Linked Employer-Employee Data, and lag a year behind the Screen Industry Survey data.

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